Hosiery trimmer



April 1951 J. w. FUNCHION ET AL 2,979,802

HOSIERY TRIMMER Filed Nov. 16, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 u s2 l J In: W

z I I I I I I I I I I I I 33110 -113 34 44 IQ r- 1 l I 44 L9 IJ/ Fig.1.

INVENTORS JOHN w. L. FUNcHmN y CLARENCE M. emu

PM 722cm A TTORNEYS HOSIERY TRIMMER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1956m M WW I L E C wN E M J C Y B p PPM?! ATTORNEYS States Patent HOSIERYTRIMMER John W. L. Funchion, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Clarence M.Ginn, Portland, Maine Filed Nov. 16, 1956, Ser. No. 622,660

9 Claims. (Cl. 26-7) This invention relates to an improved machine andmethod for cutting thread ends from stockings and the like.

It has heretofore been proposed to advance a plurality of stocking formsalong a path, to rotate successive forms in a cutting zone along thepath and to clip the thread ends on the rotating and advancing forms inthat zone as in US. Patent 2,705,827 to Gamache of April 12, 1955.

It is an object of this invention to cut the thread ends on a rotatingstocking form while the axis of the form is fixed and with a full lengthcutter also rotating on a fixed axis whereby every thread is cut at auniform pre determined distance from the stocking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for cuttingthread ends on stockings wherein the machine halts intermittently toenable a stocking to be carefully placed on one stocking form, to enableaccurate cutting to take place on another form and to enable automaticdischarge of a stocking from still another form.

A further object of the invention is to speed production and reduce costin the cutting of thread ends from stockings by freeing the operatorfrom the task of removing cut stockings and permitting the operator towork full speed at placing stockings on the forms of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to eliminate not only themanual step of loosening and removing the stockings from the threadcutting machine but to also eliminate the step of turning the stockingsinside .out after such cutting, all of these steps being accomplishedautomatically in the machine of this invention. A still further objectof the invention is to provide novel mechanical and pneumatic meanscooperatively arranged to discharge and reverse cut stockings anddeliver the same to a collection receptacle without danger of damage tothe stockings.

Other objects and advantages of the machine and method of this inventionwill be apparent from the claims, the description of the drawings andfrom the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of Fig. 1 with portions omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end view from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig' 4 is an enlarged plan view in section on line 44 of Fig. 3 of thecutting means of the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showingthe friction belt of the discharge means.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the shutter mechanism of thepneumatic discharge means, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view in section on line 7--7 its lower enddriven by an arm 36 connected by a rod 37 to an arm 38 rotated byreducer 26. Reducer pulley 41 is driven by belt 42 and pulley 43 ofmotor 24. The chain 34 is thus advanced intermittently each time it isactuated by clutch 35.

A plurality of hollow spindle carriers such as 44 are spaced aroundchain 34 each having an upper bearing roller 45 guided in an invertedchannel 46 and a lower bearing roller 47 guided in a channel 48 of base21. Each spindle carrier is thus rigidly supported at least along thestraight stretches 49 and 50 of chain 34 while it is advanceduni-directionally by a connection 51 to one of the links 52 of thechain.

A plurality of identical stocking forms such as 55 are provided, eachhaving an upper hollow, tubular tapered portion 56 for receiving astocking thereover and a lower hollow tubular spindle 57 rotatablymounted within a spindle carrier such as 44. Each stocking form 55includes an air opening 58 at its end, adjacent the toe end of astocking thereon, an air conduit, or pipe, 59 extending axiallytherethrough and an air opening 60 at the other end thereof. In theparticular embodiment of the machine used for illustration hereinopening 58 is at the top, opening 69 is at the bottom and both openingsare in a horizontal plane since the forms 55 are in upstanding position.

Each spindle 57 is rotatably mounted to revolve around its longitudinalaxis in bearings 61 and 62 in a spindle carrier 44 and includes anannular friction ring 63 around its lower portion, proximate the endthereof.

At least one cutting station 65 and at least one discharge station 66are provided along the path of the endless chain 34 preferably each onan opposite straight stretch 49 and 56 thereof. The ratcheting clutch 35causes the forms 55 to advance between stations and halt momentarilywith a form at each said station. The filling station 67 extends betweenthe discharge station 66 and the cutting station 65 and the forms 55halted in that station may have stockings placed thereover by anoperator while the conveyor 34 is halted. Thus the stockings may becarefully handled and accurately placed on the forms without danger ofruns, folds or other disadvantageous conditions.

A suitable tension device 68 is provided forthe movable bearing 69 formaintaining and adjusting the tension of the chain 34 on sprockets 30and 32.

Cutting means The cutting means of the invention is operative on eachform such as 55 halted at the cutting station 65. A belt 71 connects apulley 72 on motor 28 to a pulley 73 mounted below a swing arm 74 on ashaft 75. Shaft 75 also carries a friction wheel 76 for rotation withpulley 73 above the swing arm 74 at the level of the friction rings 63on the spindles 57 of each stocking form 55. Swing arm 74 is pivoted at78 to the base 21 and is normally urged outwardly by a compressionspring 79 attached to base 21. As each successive form 55 arrives atstation 65 its friction ring 63 engages the yieldably mounted, rapidlyrevolving, friction wheel 76 and the entire form with the stockingthereon is caused to revolve within its spindle carrier 44. Upondeparture from station 65 the ring 63 and wheel 76 separate and theswing arm springs outwardly into the path of the next succeeding form55. 1

A cutter housing 81 is fixed to a platform 82 on base: 21 at cuttingstation 65 and extendsupwardly thew above coextensive in height with theheight of the forms 55. Hbu'sing 81 is preferably of rectangular crosssection with an elongated, narrow cutting slot 33 in the wall 8.4,thereof adjacenta form 55 at station 65. One side 8 v of wall 84 formsacutting edge 86 with a'reel type cutter 87 having a plurality ofhelical blades such as 88'therearound and rotatable on a shaft 89. Theside 85 includes lateral slots 91 positioned by set screws 92 for.adjusting the cut. The other side 93 of wall 84 is of sheet metal.Housing 81 is air tight except for slot-'83 and a pneumatic conduit 94coextensive with the rear thereof. Conduit 94 leads upwardly above thelevel of the traveling stocking forms 55 and then outwardly to asource'of. continuous suction such as a pump, tank or the. like at 95 ofany well known type. Housing 81 is inclined outwardly from platform 82-so that the slot 8 3 is parallel to and ata predetermined uniformdistance from, the adjacent tapered face 96 of a form 55 rotating, whilehalted at station 65. A motor 97 and belt and pulleys 98 is provided onhousing 81 for rotating the shaft 89 and cutter reel 87 at high speed.

As each tapered form 55 is spun around its longitudinal axis at station65, with a stocking 101 or similar article with its inside face 102 tothe outside, the laterally projecting thread ends such as 103 of thepattern are repeatedly carried past the cutting means of the invention.Upon contacting first the side 93 and then the slot 83, they are drawninto the slot by suction and severed at a uniform distance from the face102 by the cutter reel 87 along the edge 86. The severed thread ends arewithdrawn from housing 81 through suction conduit 94 and auniform'length of thread is left on each stocking 101.

' l Discharge means Each stocking 101 leaves station 65 with its threadends uniformly severed andin inside out condition with the toe 104 ofthe stocking across the air opening 58 of the form 55 and the remainderof the stocking smooth against the tapered face 96 of the form. Informer cutting devices the operator had to manually remove each cutstocking from the form by rolling or sliding it upwardly while in motionand then had to manually turn the stocking inside out to bring theinterior face to the outside.

In this invention each stocking is pneumatically removed from the form,preferably by suction and preferably with the assistance of mechanicalloosening means. An air conduit 106 is located at discharge station 66with its mouth 107 in a plane parallel to, and spaced from, the plane ofthe air opening 60 of a form 55 halted at station 66. Conduit 1%6preferably leads. to avsource of continuous suction such as the suctionpump 95 and includes a collection receptacle 108 for receivingstockings. An oscillatable gate 110 is pivoted at 111 to base 21 and isof segmental shape with an aperture 112 therethrough which registerswith opening 60 and mouth 107. An upstanding elongated stud 113 ismounted on gate 110. and the gate is urged rearwardly by a tensionspring 114. The gate 110 is normally retracted with aperture'112 inregistration with the mouth 107 and the opening 60 of the form 55 at thestation so that suction is created up through the air pipe 59 and at theopening 58. Since the toe 104 of the stocking is across opening 58, withslight manual assistance the toe 104 is pulled downwardly into pipe 59and the remainder of the stockingispulled upwardly on the tapered face96 of the form. The stocking is, thus not only removed from therform butdrawn inside out down through pipe 59 into conduit 106 and finally intoreceptacle 108. When the form 55 at station 66 is again moved on endlessconveyor 34 by clutch 35 it continues to engage stud 113 therebyswinging gate 110 forwardly to cause the gate to block the mouth 1 07.Just before the next succes-- sive. .halt,- stud 113 slides out ofengagement with the form. 55, and.the gate.110, swings rearwardly toagain 4 open mouth 107 for the next successive stocking form arriving atstation 66.

Because certain types of stockings have a tendency to cling to thetapered face 96 of a form 55, mechanical means 118 is preferablyprovided at station 66. Means 118, includes an upstanding post 119having a lower pulley 120, an upper pulley 121'and an endless membersuch as a belt 122 trained around the pulleys. The outer stretch 123 ofbelt'122 is preferably co-extensive with the height of the forms 55 andis parallel to the adjacent portion of the tapered face 96 thereof atstation 66. The belt 122 is preferably of sponge rubber and adapted tof-rictionally engage a stocking. 101 to urge the same upwardly while thesuctionat opening 58 urges the toe portion downwardly into the form 55.A motor 125 is provided for rotating the pulley 120, together with beltsand pulleys such as 127, and idler pulleys such as 128 are alsoprovided.

We claim: 7

1. A thread cutting machine for stockings and the like comprising ahorizontal endless conveyor extending along a path through a fillingstation, a cutting station and a discharge station; a plurality ofupstanding, hollow, tubular, tapered stocking forms spaced around saidconveyor, each form having a top air opening and abottom air opening andeach form being mounted to rotate around its vertical axis; intermittentdrive means advancing said conveyor uni-directionally. between stationsand halting said conveyor temporarily with one of said forms at each ofsaid stations; friction means for, rotating each succes sive hollowtapered form around its vertical axis at said cutting station; cuttingmeans fixed at said cutting station for cutting the laterally projectingthreads on a stocking being rotated on a form halted at said station anddischarge means fixed at said discharge station including pneumaticmechanism adapted to connect with the bottom air opening of each formhalted at said station to pneumaticallydischarge-a stocking from saidform.

2. A combination as specified in claim, 1 wherein said fixed cuttingmeans comprises an inclined, hollow, housing having a cutting slotextending longitudinally at a spaced distance from a stocking on a format said cutting station; suction means adapted to draw free thread endsfrom said stocking into said slot, a movable knife within said housingadapted to cut off said ends atrsaid slot and means for moving saidknife.

3. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said pneumaticmechanism comprises a suction conduit having a mouth fixed beneath saiddischarge station to register with the bottom air opening ofeachsuccessive form halted at said station and means for creating suctiontherein for pulling a stocking on said form down through said form intosaid conduit thereby reversing the stocking while removing the same fromthe form.

4. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said pneumaticmechanism comprises a suction conduit below the path of said forms atsaid discharge station and an oseillatable gate slidable to cover themouth of said conduit and means to slide said gate to uncover said mouthwhen said bottom air opening of a form is directly thereover at saidstation.

5. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said friction meansincludes a hollow tubular lower spindle on each said form having afriction ring therearound and a rotativelydriven friction wheelyieldably and resiliently mounted at said cutting station to engage saidring.

6. A combination as specified in claim 1 wherein each said bottom airopening is in a horizontal plane and said pneumatic mechanism includes agate having an aperture therethrough adapted to register with saidbottom air opening; means for oscillating said gate in a horizontalplane to move said aperture into and out of, registration withsaidbottom air opening, an airrconduit having a conduit mouth in ahorizontal plane spaced from the plane of; said,,botton t air opening adistance ,equaLto theithicka ness of said gate and means for creatingair motion in said conduit.

7. A thread cutting machine for stockings and the like, said machinecomprising a plurality of forms mounted to move along a path throughsaid machine, each form having an axial suction tube therethrough with asuction inlet, proximate the toe end of a stocking, and a suction outletat the opposite end of the form; intermittent drive means for advancingsaid forms along said path with each form successively halted at acutting station and then at a discharge station; means fixed at saidcutting station for severing the loose threads of a stocking on a formhalted at said station and discharge means fixed at said dischargestation for frictionally loosening and pneumatically removing a stockinghalted at said station.

8. A combination as specified in claim 7 wherein said discharge .meansincludes an endless belt having a friction face therearound, said belthaving a stretch adapted to engage a stocking on a form at saiddischarge station and urge the same upwardly on said form toward saidsuction inlet and suction means adapted to pull said stocking into saidsuction inlet and discharge the same through said suction outlet therebyreversing the faces of said stocking.

9. Apparatus for discharging and reversing a stocking on a hollowstocking form having an opening at each opposite end, said apparatuscomprising an endlessly moving belt, having a friction face therearoundadapted to engage the exposed face of the stocking and frictionally urgethe same toward one open end of said form and suction means connected tothe other end of said form and adapted to pull the toe of the stockingdown through the interior of the form to reverse the stocking whileextracting the same from the form.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS221,932 Moses Nov. 25, 1879 952,274 Palmer Mar. 15, 1910 1,742,967Patterson Jan. 7, 1930 1,801,085 Humphrey Apr, 14, 1931 1,969,770 TaylorAug. 14, 1934 2,078,656 Erickson Apr. 27, 1937 2,206,243 Turano July 2,1940 2,233,451 Huffman et al. Mar. 4, 1941 2,518,201 Tattle Aug. 8, 19502,705,827 Gamache Apr. 12, 1955 2,763,323 Lingen Sept. 18, 19562,768,689 Ewing Oct. 30,1956 2,818,205 De Spain Dec. 31, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 363,034 Great Britain Dec. 17, 1931

